Container



Nov; 7, 1950 R. w. MCDERMOTT 2,528,503

comum Filed Nov. 16, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1

INVENTOR.

WW.MDM

a4;- ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1950 R. w. MODERMOTT CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 16, 1945 Fig. 4

' INVENTOR. W H Wow M ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 7, 1950 CONTAINER Richard W. McDermott, Hamden, Conn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to National Folding Box Company, Incorporated, a corporation of Connecticut Application November 16, 1945, Serial No. 629,019

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to collapsible containers or cartons made from paperboard or other suitable foldable sheet material and has particular application to the manufacture of cartons for the packaging of fragile articles, such as radio tubes,

light bulbs or similar articles.

The invention provides a folding carton of sturdy construction formed from a single blank of foldable material by a few simple folding and securing operations which may be performed either manually or automatically on standard machinery.

Blanks for cartons embodying the invention may be cut from large sheets or rolls of sheet material without any waste whatever, a particular feature being that no parts need be stripped or removed from the cut and scored blanks. As a result-cartons made according to the presentinvention may be produced at substantially reduced cost, both as to material and labor.

The invention specifically provides a radio tube carton which may be preformed from a flat, rectangular blank into a seam glued, collapsed tubular shell which for completion into carton form requires nothing but a few simple folding operations without the necessity of any further gluing or securing of parts for maintaining the carton in set up or closed condition.

A preferred form of radio tube carton made according to the present invention comprises en- 2 Fig. 2 shows the blank of Fig. 1 after application of glue and a first folding operation;

' Fig. 3 shows the blank of Fig. 2 after a further folding operation, whereby a flat, seam glued, collapsed tubular shell is formed;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the tubular shell of Fig. 3 after expansion into hollow tubular form;

closing side wall panels and erectable and collapsions of the carton may conveniently be standardized, the interior of the carton being adapted for adjustment for tubes of various shapes and sizes.

The objects, features and advantages of this invention will appear more fully from the detailed description which follows, accompanied by drawings showing for the purpose of illustration a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the characteristic features of this invention which are believed to be novel will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, its objects and advantages and the manner in which it may be carried out may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a radio tube carton embodying the features of this invention may be formed, the inside surface of the blank facing the observer;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the hollow shell of Fig. 4 after unfolding of certain of the enclosing side wall panels preparatory to the infolding of the carton end structures;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the shell of Fig. 5 after infolding of the two tube supporting end structures;

Fig. 7 shows the carton-forming shell of Fig. 6 after folding cushioning panels into the tube-end supporting position, the carton being ready to receive a radio tube or the like;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the closed and filled carton; and

Fig. 9 is a front view of an open carton of modified construction having depressed inner panels, the direction of view being indicated by arrows 9 in Fig. 7.

In the following description and in the claims various details will be identified by specific names for convenience. The names however are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit. Like reference characters refer tolike parts in the several figures of the drawings. In the drawings accompanying, and forming part of, this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for the purpose of explanation of broader aspects of the invention. but it is understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broader teachings of the invention and that the invention may be applied to other structures than the ones shown.

The blank A shown in Fig. 1 may be cut and scored in multiple from a large sheet or roll of paperboard or other suitable foldable sheet material on an automatic cuttting and scoring machine. Only one side of the blank need be finished or imprinted since only one surface of the blank is presented as the outside surface of the assembled carton.

The blank A is rectangular in outline, thus permitting blanks to be cut from sheets or rolls without waste material between adjoining blanks. The blank A is subdivided into a plurality of panels by cut and fold lines extending across the blank. Enclosing side wall panels ll, I2, [3, I 4 and I5 are hingedly connected along side fold lines l6, ll, 18 and [9. The ends of the side wall panel H are defined by end fold lines 20 and 2! extending at right angles to the side fold line It. The ends of the sidewall panels I2, l3 and H are defined by outlines 22 and 23 extending substantially in line with the end fold lines 28 and 2| but preferably offset with respect thereto by a distance equal to the thickness of the sheet material to facilitate subsequent folding operations; The cut lines 22 and 23 extend part way into the side wall panel l and are joined by a transverse cut'line 24 separating a tuck flap 25 from the remainder of the side wall panel I5. Further end fold lines 26 and 21 extend along the ends of the side wall panel I5 as continuations of the cut lines 22 and 23 respectively.

Corner. panels 28 and 29 are hingedly connected to the ends of the one endmost side wall panel II along the end fold lines 28 and 2|. A similar pair of corner panels 30 and 3| is hingedly connected to the other end most side wall panel I5 of the blank along the end fold lines 26 and 21.

An inner panel 32 is hingedly connected to connecting panels 33 and-34 along fold lines 35 and 36, the connecting panels 33 and 34 being hingedly connected to the corner panels 28 and 30 along fold lines 31 and 38. A further inner panel 39 is hingedly connected to connecting panels 40 and 4| along fold lines 42 and 43, the connecting .panels 49 and 4| being hinged to the corner panels 29 and 3| along fold lines 44 and 45.

Article supporting means on the inner panels 32 and 39 comprise doubly hinged flaps 46 and 41 cut from the bodies of the panels 32 and 39 by cut lines 48, 49 and 58, 5|, respectively. The cut lines 48 and 49 extend part way into the connecting panels 33 and 34 and terminate at fold lines 52 and 53 forming hinge lines for the flap 46.

he cut lines 58 and 5| extend part way into the connecting panels 40 and 4| and end at fold lines 54 and 55 forming hinge lines for the flap 41. The distance between the hinge lines 52 and 63 and the fold lines 35 and 36 is designated as d and the distance between the hinge lines 54 and I5 and the fold lines 42 and 43 is designated as d. The magnitude of the distance d and (1' determines the depth to which the doubly hinged flaps 46 and 41 may be folded back with respect to the remainder of the inner panels 32 and 39, as will be described later in connection with the completed carton and the insertion of articles therein.

The fold lines 31 and 44 of the corner panels 28 and 29 are in alignment with the side fold line I6. The remaining side fold lines I1, I8 and I9 are slightly offset with respect to the corresponding pairs of fold lines 35, 42; 36, 43; and 38, 45, to allow for the thickness of the sheet material in the folding of the carton.

The assembly of the fiat blank A into hollow carton form is preferably carried out in two steps. The first step includes the application of adhesive and folding of the blank to form a seam-glued tubular structure which may be stored and shipped in flat collapsed condition and easily erected and completed into hollow carton form when needed. The gluing and folding operation may be performed on standard automatic box machinery substantially as follows:

Adhesive a is first applied to the outside surface of a limited area of the corner panels 30 and 3| and to the end panel I5 lying therebetween as indicated in Fig. 1. The glue area on the end panel i5 is preferably restricted to a line parallel, and slightly spaced from the transverse out line 24 to prevent adhesive from spreading to the tuck flap 25. The blank is then folded about the fold lines 36, I8, 43, to bring the inside surface of the panels 36. I5 and 3| face to 4 face with the inside surface of the panels 33, I 2 and 40, respectively. Fig. 2 illustrates the blank after this folding operation, the folded blank I being designated A.

Thereafter, or substantially simultaneously,

- the blank is folded about the fold lines 31, I6

and 44 to bring the panels 28, II and 29 into adhesive engagement with the panels 30, I5 and 3|, respectively. The folded blank thus becomes a flat tubular structure A" and is illustrated in Fig. 3. The collapsed blank A" requires a minimum of space and may be stored and shipped in collapsed condition. It is ready for immediate expansion and folding into hollow carton form when needed, no further gluing or securing operations being necessary in the course of the ensuing operations for completing, filling and closing the resulting carton.

The completion of the carton, starting with a collapsed 'flat blank requires a few simple folding operations which may either be manually or mechanically performed substantially as follows:

Pressure is first applied against the edges 31, I6, 44 and 36, I8, 43 of the collapsed tubular blank A" causing the blank to expand into hollow tubular form as shown in Fig. 4.

The side wall panels I3, I4, and the tuck flap 25 are then unfolded from between the box-like end structures formed by the panels 30, 34, 32 and 33 at one end of the assembly and panels 3|, 4|, 39, 40 at the other end of the assembly. The assembly with the side wall panels I3 and I4 unfolded is illustrated in Fig. 5. The end structures may now be swung inwardly about the end fold lines 26 and 2| to form the carton shown in Fig. 6. In this operation, specifically, the outer end panel 28 having the inner end panel 30 glued thereto is swung about the end fold line 20 to bring the connecting panel 33 over the inside surface of the side wall panel I2, the inner panel 32 now extending normal to both the side wall panel I2 and the side wall panel formed by two adhesively connected panels II and I5. Similarly, the opposite end structure is moved into position by swinging the adhesively connected end panels 29 and 3| about the end fold line 2|, whereby the connecting panel 40 moves over the inside surface of the side wall panel I2 and the inner panel 39 assumes a position at right angles with respect to the side wall panel I2 and the double ply side wall formed by panels II and I5.

The article supporting apertures in the inner panels 32 and 39 may now be opened and prepared for the receipt of a radio tube or other article by pushing the doubly hinged flaps 36 and 31 inside the box-like end structure. The flaps 46 and 41 fold back about their respective hinge lines 53, 52 and 55, 54, respectively and assume the position shown in Fig. 7 showing the carton A' in article receiving position. It is apparent that the doubly hinged flaps 45 and 41 move inwardly a distance equal to twice the distance d from the respective inner panels 32 and 39 to accommodate a radio tube or similar article of a total length 1 between them. A radio tube inserted into the apertures formed by the folded back flaps 46 and 41 is firmly suspended in the carton in a position securely spaced from the side walls II, I5, I2, I3 and I4 by the inner panels 32 and 39 and spaced from the end Walls 28, 30 and 3 I, 29, by the doubly hinged flaps 46 and 41 acting as cushion panels.

It is apparent that the distance 1 between the hinged flaps 46 and 41 may be varied considerably simply by changing the length d of the cuts in the connecting panels without change in the outside dimensions of the carton. By reason of this feature articles of a wide range of sizes may be packed in cartons of standard or uniform size, an apparent convenience in packing a number of individual cartons in larger shipping containers of uniform size.

After insertion of a radio tube, the carton may be closed by folding the side wall panels I! and I4 into carton closing position and inserting the tuck flap 25 into the space between the erected box-like end structures andthe side wall ll respectively. The closed carton is shown in Fig. 8. Its perfectly smooth outside surface, free from overlapping flaps or ridges is particularly suited for the packing of individual cartons in larger shipping containers.

The carton is exceptionally sturdy since all of its outside walls except one are of' double thickness.- The end walls of the carton are two ply, one end wall being formed of .panels 28, 30, and the other end wall being formed of panels 29, 3|. Two panels II and I5 are adhesively secured together and form a double ply side wall. Double thickness is also attained by panels 33 and 40 overlying the side wall panel II. The opposite side wall panel I4 is reinforced by the connecting panels 34 and 41 lying thereunder. The only single ply side wall is the side wall panel I3. This side wall panel however is reinforced by the boxlike end structures against whose edges it rests, strengthening the side wall panel I3 considerably against deformation by outside force.

These structural peculiarities render the car-v ton exceptionally sturdy and admirably suited for the packaging of delicate or fragile parts such as radio tubes.

Cartons according to the invention lend themselves particularly well to standardization of outside dimensions since they are adapted to house articles of a great variety of sizes. As hereinbefore set forth, articles of different length I may be accommodated by varying the distanced between the hinge lines of the double end flaps l6 and 41 from the fold lines at the ends of the inner panels 32 and 39.

However, the inside dimensions of the carton may be varied further to increase the distance between the inner end panels 32 and 39 by additional fold lines extending across the entire width of the connecting panel parallel to the fold lines bordering inner panels. A front view of a carton having set back inner panels is illustrated in Fig. 9. The carton is shown as if viewed in the direction of arrows 9' in Fig. 7. The unfolded side wall panels with the tuck flap 25' nearest the observer appear at the bottom of the figure. The end walls 23', 30' and 29', 3| appear on either side. The side wall formed by panels II and I5 is seen in the back. The inner panels 32 and 39"is seen in the back. The inner panels 32' and 39 are bordered by fold lines 36, 35' and 43, 42, respectively. The doubly hinged flaps are seen at 46' and M. According to the modified construction the inner panels 32" and 39' are folded back about additional fold lines 56, 51 and 58, 59 running parallel with respect to, but spaced from, the fold lines 36', 35' and 43, 42', respectively. The doubly hinged flaps are folded back about hinge lines which lie at 53', 52' and 55', 54'.

The amount of setback of the inner panels 32' and 39 may evidently be controlled within a considerable range by the spacing of the additional fold lines 56, 51, 58 and 59 from the fold lines 36', 35', 43 and 42' at the ends of the inner panel.

The invention thus provides a carton for the packaging of fragile articles which provides excellent protection due to its sturdy construction. The carton is simple to manufacture and offers in addition to its structural features two very important advantages in production: Firstly, the carton blanks A may be cut from large sheets or rolls of sheet material without any waste material between adjoining blanks. This feature results in a, saving of material as well as in a reduction of cost in the handling of the blank since no waste material need be removed between individual blanks. Secondly, the blank is free from apertures which would require stripping operations on the cut blank. The material cut from the article receiving apertures need not be removed but forms additional cushioning panels between the end panels of the carton and the inner panels supporting an article in the box. The cushioning panels prevent longitudinal movement of articles in the box and contact of the articles with the end walls. The provision of depressed cushioning flaps and setback end walls makes the carton adaptable for the packaging of articles of a variety of sizes as hereinbefore set forth.

Obviously the invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment shown and described. Various changes may be made, features be added or omitted and structural changes be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. In the assembly of the blank into tubular form, the end panel l5 may obviously be adhesively secured to the outside surface of the other endmost side Wall panel I I instead of to the inside surface as described. This and similar changes will be obvious to persons skilled in the art, and evidently do not constitute a departure from the basic aspects or teachings of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A folding carton, more particularly for radio tubes comprising, five side wall forming panels hingedly connected to one another along side fold lines, a closure flap cut from the stock of the fifth panel, the closure flap being equal in width to the length of the carton and hingedly connected to the fourth panel along one of said side fold lines, the remainder of the fifth panel being attached face to face to the first of said panels; and two article supporting end structures articulated to said first and fifth panels attached face to face, each of said end structures comprising, a double ply outer end panel, the plies of said outer end panel being hingedly connected to said first and fifth panels, respectively, along substantially coinciding end fold lines normal to said side fold lines, said end fold lines being spaced apart a distance equal to the width of said closure flap, said end panel being foldable hingedly connected to one another along side fold lines, a closure flap cut from the stock of the fifth panel, the closure flap being equal in width to the length of the carton and hingedly connected to the fourth panel along one of said side fold lines, the remainder of the fifth panel being attached face to face to the first of said panels; and two article supporting end structures articulated to said first and fifth panels attached face to face, each of said end structures comprising, a double ply outer end panel, the plies of said outer end panel being hingedly connected to said first and fifth panels, respectively, along substantially coinciding end fold lines normal to said side fold lines, said end fold lines being spaced apart a distance equal to the width of said closure flap, said end panel being foldable into a position at right angles with respect to said attached first and fifth panels, an inner article supporting panel, and a pair of connecting panels hingedly connected along parallel fold lines to said inner panel and said double ply outer end panel, respectively, to hold the inner end panel in parallel spaced relation with respect to said outer end panel, at least one of the inner panels of said end structures having a doubly hinged flap cut therefrom by cut lines extending into the body of the adjacent connecting panels, the flap being infoldable into the end structure into a position substantially parallel to said inner panel.

3. A blank of foldable sheet material for forming a, folding carton, more particularly for radio tubes, the blank being substantially rectangular in outline and subdivided into panels by lines traversing the blank, said panels comprising five side wall forming panels hingedly connected to one another along parallel side fold lines, and end structure forming panels connected to one another along fold lines parallel with said side fold lines, said end structure forming panels lying to either end of said side wall forming panels, the end structure forming panels at the four corners at the blank being hingedly connected to the adjacent side wall forming panels by end fold lines normal to said side fold lines, the remaining end structure forming panels being separated from the respective adjacent side wall forming panels by two out lines aligned with the said end fold lines, the two out lines extending into the body of one endmost side wall forming panel and being connected by a out line extending across said endmost side wall panel, the said out lines separating a tuck flap from the body of said endmost side wall panel, certain of said end structure forming panels having article receiving apertures cut therein.

4. A blank of foldable sheet material for for ing a folding carton, more particularly for rad'o tubes, the blank being substantially rectangular in outline and subdivided into panels by lines traversing the blank, said panels comprising fize side wall forming panels of substantially equal width hingedly connected to one another along parallel side fold lines, and end structure forming panels connected to one another along fold lines parallel with said side fold lines, said end structure forming panels lying to either end of said side wall forming panels, the end structure forming panels at the four corners at the blank being hingedly connected to the adjacent side wall forming panels by end fold lines normal to said side fold lines and spaced from the edges of the blank a distance substantially equal to the width of said side wall forming panels, the remaining end structure forming panels being separated from the respective adjacent side wall forming panels by two out lines aligned with the said end fold lines, the two cut lines extending into the body of one endmost side wall forming panel and being connected by a cut line extending across said endmost side wall panel, the said cut lines separating a tuck fiap from the body of said endmost side wall panel, certain of said end structure forming panels having article receiving apertures cut therein.

5. A blank of foldable sheet material for forming a folding carton, more particularly for radio tubes, the blank comprising, five side wall forming panels hingedly connected to one another by four substantially equally spaced side fold lines, four end wall forming corner panels hingedly connected to the ends of each of the two outermost side wall forming panels by end fold lines extending at right angles with respect to said side fold lines, and two groups of intermediate supporting structure forming panels hingedly connected to one another and to corner panels by fold lines parallel with said sz'de fold lines, said intermediate panels being separated from the adjacent side wall forming panels by two cut lines extending substantially in line with said two and fold lines, the two out lines being interconnected by a transverse out line extending across the body of one of the outermost side wall forming panels separating a tuck flap therefrom, certain of said intermediate panels having article supporting apertures cut therein.

6. A rectangular blank of foldable sheet material for forming a folding carton, more particularly for radio tubes comprising, five side wall forming panels hingedly connected to one another by substantially equally spaced side fold lines; four end wall forming panels at the four corners of the blank, said end wall forming panels being hingedly connected to the ends of the two outermost side wall forming panels along end fold lines extending normal to said side fold lines and spaced from the edges of the blank a distance substantially equal to the distance between two side fold lines; a connecting panel hingedly connected to each of the four corner panels along fold lines parallel with said sidefold lines; and article supporting panels hingedly connected between each two connecting panels along fold lines parallel with said side fold lines, said article supporting panels having article receiving apertures cut therein by cut lines extending across said supporting panels into the body of the two adjoining connecting panels and forming hinged flaps, said connecting and article supporting panels being separated from the adjacent side wall forming panels by end cut lines extending substantially in line with said end fold lines, the end cut lines being interconnected by a transverse out line extending across the body of one of the outermost side wall forming panels, separating a tuck flap therefrom.

' RICHARD W. McDERMOTI'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num'-er Name Date 1,932,705 Menter Oct. 31, 1933 2,318,101 Rose May 4, 1943 2,393,734 Beardsell Jan. 29, 1946 2,397,041 Pantalone Mar. 19, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 474,592 Great Britain Nov. 3, 1937 

